Teachers union: Kaneland's Web posting 'distorted'

A spokesman for the Kaneland Education Association says that the information the Kaneland 302 school district has placed on its Web site regarding union and district proposals on salaries and retirement is "distorted."

"It lacks the information that is behind the discussions that have taken part during negotiations," said Angie Bateman, spokesman for the teachers union and a fifth-grade teacher at Blackberry Creek Elementary School in Elburn.

"We have put up factual information," countered Superintendent Charles McCormick. "How can we include information that is currently being discussed?"

The 360-member union voted 267-11 Sunday to file a 10-day intent to strike. The strike could begin as early as Thursday, Oct. 16. Mediation will begin at 7 p.m. today at the district office which is at the west end of the high school at 47W326 Keslinger Road in Maple Park. Teachers plan a 6:30 p.m. demonstration outside the building before the mediation meeting.

The dispute focuses on salaries and retirement benefits and prompted McCormick to say Tuesday that giving in to the teachers' demands would delay the opening of the new middle school.

The difference between the two proposals is about $1.2 million, the district contends.

The teachers union is proposing a three-year contract with increases of 5.8 percent the first year, 6.5 percent the second year and 5.1 percent the third year. Base salaries would go from $34,869 in the first year to $37,082 for the third year for a total cumulative salary cost of $59.7 million vs. the district's proposed $58.6 million. The district proposes increases of 4.5 percent for the first year, 6 percent for the second and 5.3 percent for the third, with base salaries at $34,400 in the first year topping off at $37,581 in the third.

"We don't want to bargain in the media," Bateman said. "But there are two approaches on how to set up the salary schedule and the steps. They (the district) has put information on the Web site that wasn't discussed. There hasn't been a concern about opening the new middle school. We are working within the parameters of the current budget. It doesn't go beyond that."

Bateman said the teachers union is working on developing handouts and information that should be available by the weekend. She noted that teachers must work outside of classroom hours on bargaining proposals.

"We understand the concern to get the information out there, but we want to retain the integrity of the bargaining process," Bateman said. "We are really hoping to come to an agreement through mediation."

Parents are hoping for a quick settlement and striving to understand both sides of the issues.

"I think teachers need a fair contract, and one of my concerns is bringing in more of an industrial tax base," said Scott Martens of Blackberry Township. He and his wife Annmarie have three children who are in third, fifth and seventh grade and have been in the district since kindergarten.

Martens said he can understand why a water park in Sugar Grove and a railport near Elburn were turned away in recent years, but added, "Then you lose a ton of money in taxes."

"I love our teachers, and they do sacrifice salary-wise by staying here," said Scott's wife Annmarie Martens. She taught in Oswego and does substitute teaching in the Kaneland district. "I would like to keep the quality schools we have in our district."

"In any business you want the best worker at the lowest price but sometimes you have to pay the premium," said Anna Kucera of Elburn. She has three children in the Kaneland Middle School.

"Our teachers are starting below the pay teachers get in other districts," she said. "My children will be applying to college and every year counts. One bad teacher can throw a student back. We do have excellent teachers here and we have a need for them. But it's hard for them to stay in the district because other districts are paying more."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=241489">Comparison of Kaneland District 302, union proposals <span class="date">[10/9/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=241489">Kaneland Dist. 302, teachers begin mediation Thursday <span class="date">[10/08/08]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=240850">Kaneland teachers overwhelmingly support first step towards strike <span class="date">[10/06/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>